Sustainability in supply chain management: a literature review and a conceptual flow cycle

Abstract

A literature review on sustainability in supply chain management is presented. The review differs from past ones in that it surveys more the non-operations management articles such as those in the areas of industrial ecology, clusters/eco-industrial parks, economics of locality, systems learning and thinking. Inspired by the review, a conceptual flow cycle for sustainable networks is developed in terms of its four phases: development, production, distribution and assessment. Potential research opportunities are highlighted.